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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: txpollock on March 24, 2010, 12:31:02 pm
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We have ahd this horse for 24 years. My husband rescued it from the trash after the owners had a house fire. The hair was singed and the horse was covered in soot. Due to the fire damage the original leather was dry-rotted and most of it is gone now. The horse is hollow on an iron rocker. I am assuming it is make of some type of plastic. I originally thought fiberglass but it has a small hole in the undersde of one leg and so I don't think it is fiberglass after all. I haven't done anything to it except to have cleaned it up 24 years ago. Other than that, it is in the original state in which we found it(less the leather that has since rotted and broken off) The saddle is made of a hard plastic and I have included pictures of 2 of the only identifying marks on the horse that are on either side of the saddle. We have done extensive research to find this horses origin. We even had it in an antique mall about 17 years ago for a short time and got a possible origin but have been unable to confirm. A lady told us that she saw this same horse in the department store window christmas display when she was a child.(she was about 50 at the time) The manager of the store said it was not for sale. The lady could not remember the name of the department store but I believe she said it was in one of the New England states. If anyone here could help me I would be so appreciative. I am not interested in selling this but it is such a wonderful horse....all of my children rode it when they were small and I would really like to know it's origin and possible value.
Thanks
(http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww243/txpollock/P1010174.jpg) (http://s724.photobucket.com/albums/ww243/txpollock/?action=view¤t=P1010174.jpg)
(http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww243/txpollock/P1010176.jpg) (http://s724.photobucket.com/albums/ww243/txpollock/?action=view¤t=P1010176.jpg)
(http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww243/txpollock/P1010179.jpg) (http://s724.photobucket.com/albums/ww243/txpollock/?action=view¤t=P1010179.jpg)
(http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww243/txpollock/P1010180.jpg) (http://s724.photobucket.com/albums/ww243/txpollock/?action=view¤t=P1010180.jpg)
(http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww243/txpollock/P1010181.jpg) (http://s724.photobucket.com/albums/ww243/txpollock/?action=view¤t=P1010181.jpg)
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There is a lot of info online for identifying older wooden rocking horses, but I'm afraid I didn't have any luck finding information on identifying vintage fiberglass/plastic ones. Without a maker's name, it will be difficult. Have you checked everywhere under the belly, bottoms of the hooves etc? I'm surprised with the logo that it has that no manufacturer's name is on it.
It does look like a very high-quality horse for the time that it was made. If I'm not mistaken, it looks like natural horsehair was used for the mane and tail, which is something usually only found in carousel horses or very high-end ones.
He's a terrific little guy and quite a survivor for having come through a fire! I'm glad that you rescued him!
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I to have search and with no results. >:( He is wonderful and he has horse or cow hair I'm leaning more towards horse. I am surprised if he is made of plastic and it was hot enough in the fire to singed his hair he did not sustain more damage. I would try your local library or book store to search rocking horses. will keep an eye out.
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I don't think he is hide covered, right? The body is fiberglass or some artificial material? I think only the mane and tail are horsehair.
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Right talesof...the body is smooth and hard. We have researched every place we could think of and haven't been able to come up with anything. Now that you mention it wendy....I will have to go and check those eyelashes....don't know why it didn't occur to me that the horse would have "wilted" a bit in the fire if the eyelashes were singed. It could be that someone cut them...not sure but I will look. The horse was covered in soot but that was probably more smoke than fire. We have loved him for all these years and just really would like to find out where this guy came from.
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You should be able to tell what the horse is made of by looking in that hole. Fiberglass will have rough fibers on the inside and around the hole. Plastic will be smooth inside and the hole will not have fibers. Aluminum will be sharp metal and should make a metal sound (plastic and fiberglass will be dull) when tapped with a metallic object like a spoon. Fiberglass (and maybe plastic) will also exhibit spider cracks due to age and stress especially at the leg areas where it is fastened to the rockers. Plastic can be melted with a hot pin. Fiberglass not so much. Aluminum not at all.
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Wayward...this horse would be fiberglass according to what you said. Fibers at the small hole...rough inside and a dull sound when knocked on. There are no stress or spider cracks anywhere that I can see. The feet are fastened to the rockers by bolts through the bottom of the hooves. Fiberglass may explain why it didn't melt but I still would guess that it only had smoke damage. I can't really tell if the eyelashes were cut or singed because it has been so long now that they are just uneven.
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I'm curious , since seeing the rivets on your horsie assembly , if it's possible that the rocking frame of this unit is not it's original ?
What I'm getting @ is : could this be a 'fusion' of an original fiberglass coin-operated 'horsie' and a rocking stand (perhaps for window-dressing for Christmas season , etc. ) ?
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Very interesting observation fancypants. I went back and looked at the first photo and that rocker does appear to be fabricated so I do believe you are correct. The front ends and rear are very square and would be too sharp to have been done at a factory originally making these for kids. The lawsuits would have put them out of business in no time. And I do not see a support for the right front leg which is odd. The left rear leg support is fuzzy so it is hard to tell how that is fastened. I am guessing the rocker is angle iron or possibly square tubing. A factory rocker would be round steel tubing. This is probably why no one can find a similar factory rocking horse to compare. A search of merry-go-round horses or amusement ride horses may yield a similar horse for comparison.
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Awesome Fancy & wayward searched coin operated and it looks like that could be the answer!!!! Tx found this company they charge $50.00 for full history & details on horses. personally I think it would be worth the money to get some answers on your little fella. http://www.carouselworkshop.com please let us know what you find.
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After looking at the site Wendy provided, it occurred to me that if this indeed was a coin operated or kiddie horse in its' previous life, there should be some old mounting holes on the belly or opposite side where it was attached to the ride base. txpollock are there any old holes anywhere on this horse other than the one hole you mentioned on the underside of one leg?
After looking at more images, I think this style pony was more like a pony from a pony cart ride. The belly fit in a cradle while the legs were attached to a mechanism that would go up and down when the wheel they rode on would go over a bump. This would explain the hole(s) in the legs but nowhere else on the body. See pic for visual on mechanism. It is also possible this whole pony/rocker was on a similar type kiddie ride that rocked back and forth when going around or on some type of track. This would also explain the presence of a saddle and reins. I would guess this was for very young children 4-6 or so and accompanied by a close standing adult.
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Wendy...Yes I would be glad to pay someone $50.00 if I could get the info I've been searching for. Thanks for the link. Wayward...no mounting holes and the one hole that is there looks to be from a possilbe mishap. The hole does not seem to be ther intentionally.
Here is a picture of the hole so you can see that it was probably an accident.
(http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww243/txpollock/P1010183.jpg)
This hole is actually on the backside of the right rear leg. Checking further, we are finding no other holes. The 3 hooves are firmly fastened with bolts and the horse is very sturdy so my guess is that the balance was good with 3 legs and the right front hoof was not needed for stability.
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If only this little guy could talk!!!! ;D
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tx, you might want to check out this site to see if there might be one similar here. Wouldn't hurt to get in contact with them too, they might be able to tell you just what you do have.
http://www.carouselworkshop.com/cat25.htm
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Also found these, both German made from around 1920. Doesn't specify what they are made of but the form is similar. They both appear to have a metal pole reaching up to their underside (the first one seems closer to the breast area). Wonder if it is possible that it is not attached, but more a bracing for support?
Going to check the company name to see if anything comes up with that ;)
http://www.rockinghorsedesign.com/antics.htm
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I just stumbled across this rocking horse on Craigslist and recognized it immediately. Same mold as the one posted above, different paint:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/atq/2415325743.html (http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/atq/2415325743.html) They have it listed at $1600.
(http://images.craigslist.org/3k93mb3of5O15P65X1b61fedb5df7f6ee19cd.jpg)
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The pattern of the horses coat is of an appaloosa so I don`t think he is German made. It is an American breed !!
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found this one....
http://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1464&aid=28098&lid=7785894
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The pattern of the horses coat is of an appaloosa so I don`t think he is German made. It is an American breed !!
Hi Mart, it could simply be a dapple grey, very common over here, and not an Apaloosa.
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Many items have been made in Germany for export to other countries. The items may be foreign to Germany but specific to the import country.
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Could be !! Just thinking of how likely it would be that they would do an Indian pony !!
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I am thinking about all the toys that Britain made (lead figures) for the American market and also Germany was a major maker/exporter of toys years ago, many of which were of American ships, cars, etc. I would not think it unusual for Germany to paint a rocking horse in a breed specific color and then export it to where that breed had a demand. I wonder if they made unicorns and where they would have sold them? ;D
I believe Appaloosa horses have more pronounced spots than exhibited by this rocking horse.
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LOL !! OK Wayward !! I will curb my thoughts a bit !!
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No need to curb your thoughts, mart. This forum benefits from all users (except spammers) thoughts, ideas, knowledge, and freedom of expression. Random thoughts cause everyone to think and thinking is good. My point only was, I would not rule out a country just because that country was not a home to that item. China shipped out (and still does) all kinds of export items to other countries that they have no market for at home.
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The black horse in the first pics is an appaloosa, the one I posted yesterday is a dappled gray. The white pattern on the rump is called a "blanket".
Here's a black blanketed appaloosa like the original post:
(http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww243/txpollock/P1010174.jpg)
(http://www.ipshr.com/LP%20&%20Patn%20Stallions/Schoshone%20Day%20Dreamer/Shoshone1.jpg)
and a dappled gray like the one from my local Craigslist:
(http://images.craigslist.org/3k93mb3of5O15P65X1b61fedb5df7f6ee19cd.jpg)
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tAzXmngi_pQ/Tbmd7eiPeBI/AAAAAAAAAIc/-8yLBrGscgs/s1600/1.jpg)
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I sat astride a dapple grey for many years .... and not the wooden type! ;D
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I have six hay burners,, want to come ride ?? I have been a horse nut since I was 10 !! Still am in fact !!
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This is me, at the awkward age of 15 with my baby, Cocoa in 1976:
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Mine was a TB/Quarter cross named Ed !! Yep,, that was during the "Mr Ed" era !! Somewhere in the 60`s !!
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That is what Cocoa was too, TB/Qtr. That's a VERY good mix. She definitely took after her thoroughbread side, tall, long and lean, but a little more rounded out than most TB's. I had her for thirteen years until I finally lost her to "moon blindness" aka recurrent opthomalia or recurring blindness. I still miss her. She was my girl. :-)
For a short time I also had a wild-caught mustang named Mariah. That was interesting as she was still somewhat undomesticated. She was a big girl, one of the mustang lines that were bred with Percheron draft horse to increase their size. She was 16.5 hands if I remember correctly.
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I think they thought that the normally calm draft breeds would quiet down the mustang as well as add size !! 16.5 was a good size horse !! Mine are smaller around 15 hh !! I am only 5' 1" so I like them close to the ground !! I rode at the rodeo during my younger days !! I lived next door to the Mesquite Championship Rodeo and spent all my weekends there !! Had a blast back then !!
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I am tall, 5'-10" and Cocoa, the TB/qtr above was 15.5 hands. She was just right for me. My first job was as a riding instructor for a local stable. I taught English, Western, basics and a little bit of beginning vaulting. I used to do vaulting, jumping and a little bit of the gymkhana stuff, but not too much gymkhana. Loved trail riding most of all, much more so than anything in the arena.
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I'm 6' and for years rode a 15.2 Palamino, built like an armchair! The dapple grey was an Arab... They look slight, but although I'm probably also considered 'slight' they can take a hefty rider!
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I have a half Arab dapple gray !! She is 7 and is not all the way yet but she is getting there. Also have a flea bitten gray, a bay, 2 paints and a buckskin !! They are my babies !!
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That's an impressive little stable you've got there .. All I have now are chickens! ;D
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Yep !! They keep me busy and out of trouble !! Figure at my age I need to stay active so between the horses and two good size gardens I should live to at least 62 !! ( I am 61 now !! LOL)